Omaha daily bee., 1887-12-05
ABOUT THINGS new AND OLD
Rev. g. w. Grofts Urges a Union Of
Conservatism and Progress.
THE POsTOFFICE BUSINESS.
Its Increase Indicates the Growth Of
Council Bluffs-The st. An.
drews' NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
Sunday Events.
Things New and Old.

AT the Congregational church yester-
day morning the pastor, Rev. G. w.
Crofts, gave very interesting sermon
on "Things Old and New" His text
was, every scribe which is instructed
unto the kingdom OF heaven is like unto
man that is householder, which
bringeth forth out OF his treasure things
new and old" He described the func-
tiOns OF scribe te be that of both pre-
serving aud proclaiming the truth. A
scribe was not only q historian, but also
preacher. Ezra was a leading exam
pie of what true scribe would be. He
gathered up the sacred writings, ar
ranged them, gave the connecting links,
and in this way became sacred his
torian. He was more than this. He was
the Luther OF his time. He was II bold re-
former. He brought forth from his
treasure things old and new. Christ
himself thus gave an example. He
gathered from the past all the truths
which needed reiterating, which were
of real value, he cleared them from the
incrustations OF time and traditions and
rcmOldcd them. presenting these old
of these old truths appeared. When he
said blessed are the meek. for they
inherit the earth" he used the very
words found in one of the Psalms. In
speaking to his disciples in the words
OF the text he evidently intended that
they should become true scribcs. He
asked them if they fully understood
what he had been teaching them, and
when they answered him that they did,
he addressed to them the words of the
text. They had been instructed, and
their next duty was to be scribes.
There were some foolish enough to
discard practically the whole of the
scriptures, because there were in the
history of the creation. and in the early
laws, some things which did not appear
to be consistent with modern ideas if
taken literally. These treasures of the
past should not be thus ruthlessly tossed
| aside. If ycarsagO some one in passing
over the plains of Troy had declared
there were hidden treasures far beneath
the surface, few would have believed it,
When DR.. Schliemann dug them out
| and held them up to the admiration of
the world, then the foolishness of such
doubling became apparent. There were
treasures of truth, which the deliver
| alone could find and which were rare
ornaments to the soul and cnrichmcnts
| for the life. These rich, antique truths
| should be brought to the surface, should
| be used as patterns from which to copy.
The disciples of Christ should be both
conservative and progressive, us He
was both. This age was II peculiar one.
| 1t was the age of social, governmental
and theological upheavals. 1t was IL
| delving, trying, nervous, reformatOry
| age. 1t was essentially necessary that
the example of Christ should be fol-
lowed, and things both old and new
cared for.
| On the other hand it should not be
forgotten that the law of God was one of
progress, and there should be no fear of
new thoughts, or phases of truth. Our
vision was more extended than that of
our fathers. We stood upon their
shoulders, and could get new glimpses
of truth. Let not the eyes be closed to
these new things. If false teachers tried
to mislead the people, the error would
soon be exposed. This was an age of
rare intelligence. 1t was an age in
which thoughts were tested. New
ideas were tried as if by fire!
Formerly the men were put in the
fire. Now the ideas were put in the
| fire. No one was prosecuted because OF
opinions sake. 1t was the opinion, and
not the man, which was attacked. Let
no one, therefore. fear the new. Let nc
one be ashamed of the past. Let each
one bring out from his treasure both the
new and the old.